Judge Family Ancestors

James and Ruby Judge

Ruby’s father was one of the pioneers in Australian history, early settler with his brother Francis Rogers and later owner of Toobrack Station, Longreach,Queensland Australia. Theirs was a very grand marriage, most likely funded by Ruby’s father Henry Francis Rogers.

The Newspaper Marriage Notice of James Joseph Judge and Ruby Jane Rogers

“A very pretty wedding, that attracted a considerable amount of interest amongst residents at Emu Park, was celebrated at the Roman Catholic Church, Emu Park, on Sunday last the 10 January 1920.

The service was conducted by the Rev. Father McElheny. The church was tastefully decorated for the occasion by friends of the bride. Mr Rogers gave his daughter away.

The bride wore an exceedingly pretty gown of ivory crepe de Chine, the bodice being madein the the pinafore style, and effectively trimmed with pearl embroidery. The narrow skirt had a draped tunic looped at the left side. Her handsomely embroidered tulle veil was arranged inthe mob cap fashion over a coronet of orange blossoms. Her show bouquet of pink and white flowers and her diamond brooch were the gifts of the bride groom.

Miss M Rogers (sister of the bride was in attendance as bridesmaid. She wore a dainty frockof white georgette trimmed with real filet lace and insertion, and finished with soft white satin sash. She also wore a hat of mastic georgette, with nattier blue trimmings. She carried a bouquet of pail blue and white flowers qand wore the briedgroom’s gift (a diamond and saphire brooch).

Mr F R Noon undertook the duties of best man.

Mrs Rogers (the bridge’s mother)was tastefully dressed in cinnamon brown crepe de chine with mastic trimmings and a close fitting hat to harmonise. The wedding breakfast was served at Toobrac (the bride’s parent’s Emu Park residence) and the customary toasts honoured. The guests included only the relatives of the bride and bridegroom and a few intimate friends.

Mr and Mrs Judge afterwards left for the south, where they intend to spend their honeymoon. The bride travelled in a becoming navy blue fleur de nice tailored costume. The sac coat had a heam turned up with the cuff effect and was trimmed with self- coloured buttons. The skirt had a straight panel, back and front and a hem to match the coat. She wore a hat to correspond.”

According to the census of 1901 the population of Longreach was 1690. James and Ruby took up residence in the Commercial Hotel Longreach Queensland and there gave birth to two sons, first Jim in 1920 and then Henry Francis (Junior ‘Harry’) in Oct 1922.

Death of Mrs J J Judge – Obituary

As announced briefly in these columns last week, Mrs J J Judge, wife of Mr J J Judge of the Commercial Hotel passed to her rest on Friday afternoon last after a very brief illness. The news came as a great shock to the community, as the deceased lady had been seen about the town only a day or two prior to her death. Mrs Judge, who was the daughter of Mr and Mrs H F Rogers of Toobrack, pioneers in the pastoral industry and very highly repected residents of the West, is survived by her husband and two infant boys, and the sympathy of the community is extended to them in their sudden bereavement.The funeral took place on Saturday afternoon from St Brigid’s Church, the Rev Father Jones performing the last sad rites. A large number gathered at the graveside to pay their last respects, all sections of the community being represented.Wreaths and floral tributes were sent by “Her Loving Husband”, “Father and Mother”, Mr and Mrs F.W. Banks (Kendal), Mr and Mrs J Rogers (Toobrack), Mr and Mrs F Rogers (Belmore), “Charlie, Willie, Tilley”, “Mr and Mrs LJ Black and family, Messrs Finley Bros. (Rockhampton) Mr J. Lubeck (Rosedale), Mrs J Springer and Mrs McLaughlin (Imperial Hotel) Members of the H.A.C.B. Society Sub. Inspector and Mrs Duffy and family, Longreach Licensed Victuallers’ Association, Messrs, Comino Bros., “Boarders”, “Staff” (Commerical Hotel), and The New Zealand Loan and M.A.Co Ltd., (Rockhampton and Longreach).

Ruby died as a result of a terrible accident. She fell down some stairs at the back of the Hotel in Rockhampton and when the doctor arrived he was said to have been inebriated and she died from haemorrhaging. Another story was that Ruby died because the doctor was negligent and gave her too much chloroform. When Ruby died her sons Jim and Harry were 5 and 3 years old.

James Joseph and Harry Judge at Sandgate

James Joseph Judge went on running the Commercial Hotel in Longreach and then later moved to live in Brisbane where he owned and ran the Clarence Hotel. His sister Mary Battle would come and visit with him and assist in the hotel. The residence was in the top of the hotel and remains so now with its new owners. There still exists a number of historic pieces of memorability from the hotel and I’m very proud to own a knife that has Ruby Roger’s name engraved on it. It must have been a wedding gift to her and only in 2013 was given to me by a second cousin.

James had a tram accident in Brisbane and subsequently ended up losing an arm. He was a quiet man according to his son Harry. He did demonstrate a strong ability to network and influence as he advised his sons over the years with some pretty good recommendations. He didn’t speak much of Ireland at all or his wife. His boys were practically raised by the Marist brothers at Rosalie College in Brisbane. During WWII I am told he ran a very successful hotel trade due to the many US army soldiers stationed in Brisbane, Queensland.

James spent his last days living at 16 Flinders Parade, Sandgate in Queensland Australia. He died on the 21 September 1956 after a few days earlier having had a bad fall and hit is head. At the time Harry was living and working in Cooma and traveled to reach him before he passed away. This was two years before Harry married Cecily.